The accessibility of pelvic health physiotherapy for adolescents with persistent pelvic pain : a qualitative framework analysis

Background: Physiotherapy, with a specific focus on pelvic health, is one service used in the multidisciplinary management of adolescent persistent pelvic pain (PPP). However, there has been little investigations into the accessibility of physiotherapy for adolescents with PPP. Objective: This qualitative study aimed to detail the experiences of adolescents with PPP accessing a tertiary hospital physiotherapy service. Methods: Two focus groups included six adolescent females diagnosed with PPP that had either a) been referred and attended the physiotherapy clinic (n = 5), or b) been referred to physiotherapy but yet to attend their appointment (n = 1 plus one support person). Focus group transcripts were deductively thematically analyzed according to four domains from the patient-centered healthcare accessibility framework. Results: The domain of ‘Approachability and ability to perceive’ was impacted by limited information and poor patient health literacy. ‘Acceptability and ability to seek’ was hindered by adolescent mental health struggles and failures of previous PPP management. ‘Availability and accommodation, and ability to reach’ was influenced by lengthy referral processes, and reliance on familial support for transport. ‘Acceptability and ability to engage’ was facilitated by engaging clinicians and group environments, however, adolescents became dependent on physiotherapy for pain management. Conclusion: Physical, social, and environmental factors influence the accessibility of physiotherapy for adolescents with PPP. Healthcare services should consider the specific needs of adolescents with PPP for optimizing accessibility.